So much better.

If some people had their way, Porzingis wouldn't even be a Knick. Every time one doubts Phil Jackson go watch Porzingis play and watch Lopez play this year. Those were Phil's 2 major moves this summer. You can't really take Afflalo or Jose seriously, those are guys put in as short term fill ins for when much better talent can be gotten via free agency.

If they hadn't made that idiotic Bargnani and Melo (since he was likely to sign in the offseason anyway) trade, right now Phil would have had 2 lottery picks on top of Porzingis to work with. He lost both the 2014 and 2016 draft picks, both of which will be around the 8-10 range in the lottery. Thanks to great work of the past. Instead of having say a Zack LaVine in 2014 and another top 10 lottery talent in 2016, we'll just have 2015's in Porzingis. That's how badly guys before him screwed up.

The Triangle isn't even close to the team's biggest problem. It's the lack of talent in the backcourt and Melo being paid like a franchise player to carry a team to the playoffs when he just can't physically do it all while the team has had 1 draft pick in the last 3 years.

We've seen this team add players for the longterm. Lopez, Porzingis, Galloway, Grant, and DWill even. You add some free agents in 2016 and 2017 who are both in their 20's on contracts that are worth what they bring in today's market and fit into our biggest needs (backcourt), now this team is vastly improved and far more competitive. You then add some young pieces via trading Melo, you may be able to have a completely re-build all around longterm team to work with that can make the playoffs.

Melo (5 year deal, however I have to believe the major reason Dolan hired him was to keep Melo)
Porzingis (4 year deal, lotto pick)
Lopez (4 year deal, free agency).
Grant (likely 4 year investment, traded for a draft pick)
Possibly a 5th is Galloway but lets see if the Knicks sign him to how many years this summer.

The rest are all short term moves to fill in for a re-building situation and to preserve capspace while still trying to stay competitive.

There's still lots to be done, and Jackson knows this. There's only a little bit done so far (4 players I mentioned above). I give Jackson about 1.5 years more to make this a playoff team with a young nucleus. By young I don't mean KP young, but KP + 3 core guys in their 20's at least.

BRIGGS wrote:

nyknickzingis wrote:Yeah great idea.
Lets fire Phil and get someone who would do something magical like give Amare a super max, trade for Chandler on another super max deal, and hey while we're at it, lets trade some picks for Bargnani on another max deal. Wait, what about our own nice young draft pick and pieces like Mosgov, Gallinari? Hey lets trade him for a free agent that likely signs with us in the offseason.

So much better.

If some people had their way, Porzingis wouldn't even be a Knick. Every time one doubts Phil Jackson go watch Porzingis play and watch Lopez play this year. Those were Phil's 2 major moves this summer. You can't really take Afflalo or Jose seriously, those are guys put in as short term fill ins for when much better talent can be gotten via free agency.

If they hadn't made that idiotic Bargnani and Melo (since he was likely to sign in the offseason anyway) trade, right now Phil would have had 2 lottery picks on top of Porzingis to work with. He lost both the 2014 and 2016 draft picks, both of which will be around the 8-10 range in the lottery. Thanks to great work of the past. Instead of having say a Zack LaVine in 2014 and another top 10 lottery talent in 2016, we'll just have 2015's in Porzingis. That's how badly guys before him screwed up.

The Triangle isn't even close to the team's biggest problem. It's the lack of talent in the backcourt and Melo being paid like a franchise player to carry a team to the playoffs when he just can't physically do it all while the team has had 1 draft pick in the last 3 years.

We've seen this team add players for the longterm. Lopez, Porzingis, Galloway, Grant, and DWill even. You add some free agents in 2016 and 2017 who are both in their 20's on contracts that are worth what they bring in today's market and fit into our biggest needs (backcourt), now this team is vastly improved and far more competitive. You then add some young pieces via trading Melo, you may be able to have a completely re-build all around longterm team to work with that can make the playoffs.

I completely agree with you. My bet is Mills Carmelo and some other management and scouts did NOT want KP. That alone makes Phil's job positive no matter the ultimate outcome. I mean we have some idiots working for the Knicks for many years. Do people really want Mills running this team with Dolan?>>>>>>???????

You mean the same Mills that has a deal for Lowry or the Mills that worked out a deal for Teague a couple of years ago?

NO.	NAME	                POS	AGE	HT	WT	2015-2016 SALARY
7	Carmelo Anthony	        SF	31	6-8	240	$22,875,000
6	Kristaps Porzingis	PF	20	7-3	240	$4,131,720
13	Jerian Grant	        PG	23	6-4	195	$1,572,360
2	Langston Galloway	SG	24	6-2	200	$845,059
23	Derrick Williams	PF	24	6-8	240	$4,000,000
8	Robin Lopez	        C	27	7-0	255	$12,650,000
42	Lance Thomas	        SF	27	6-8	235	$1,636,842
Unsure Future
11	Cleanthony Early	SF	24	6-8	210	$845,059
9	Kyle O'Quinn	        PF	25	6-10	250	$3,750,000
32	Jimmer Fredette	        PG	26	6-2	195	$874,837
Most likely Gone
4	Arron Afflalo	        SG	30	6-5	210	$8,000,000
1	Kevin Seraphin	        C	26	6-10	278	$2,814,000
18	Sasha Vujacic	        SG	31	6-7	195	$947,276
17	Lou Amundson	        PF	33	6-9	220	$1,635,476
3	Jose Calderon	        PG	34	6-3	200	$7,402,812

smackeddog wrote:You realize when he goes Mills will be taking over, don't you. Before Phil, it was Dolan and Mills running the team- do you really think that was better?

Bonn1997 wrote:

smackeddog wrote:You realize when he goes Mills will be taking over, don't you. Before Phil, it was Dolan and Mills running the team- do you really think that was better?

Was it worse? We've gone like 40-100 the last 2 years. If KP doesn't become a superstar, then I don't think we'll be able to point to anything Phil has done and say it was better than what the previous GMs did here.

2009-10 29-53, .354, No playoffs
2008-09 32-50, .390, No playoffs
2007-08 23-59, .280, No playoffs
2006-07 33-49, .402, No playoffs
2005-06 23-59, .280, No playoffs

Yeah, you're right on there, Bonn. Give me those other GM's any day of the week!